DECOUPLING: 22 Republicans Urge Bill Barr to Hold China Accountable for ‘Heinous Crimes’ Regarding Coronavirus.

CHANGE: Utah Becomes First State to Let Law Grads Skip Bar Exam Amid COVID-19.

STOP FLACKING FOR CHINA: It’s Time for the Press to Play by the Rules Too.

In the midst of the greatest test of their mettle in a generation, the New York Times devoted a Sunday front-page article to the absurd claim that criticizing China’s role in this catastrophe amounts to “scapegoating” that is motivated by bigoted “xenophobia.” The piece is an example of the axe-grinding ideology pretending to be news that has become commonplace when our country can least afford it.

It’s a stone-cold fact that the Chinese government repeatedly misled the world about the origin and nature of the virus. Their deceit is entirely consistent with how the Chinese Communist Party has mangled the truth about public-health calamities in the past, including prior outbreaks, and as far back as the state-induced famines of Chairman Mao, which killed millions of China’s own citizens.

But according to the Times, Americans are being manipulated into considering those realities, all part of a cynical strategy to “divert attention” from domestic politics. For proof, the Times showed poll results that nearly 80 percent of Americans fault the Chinese government for dishonesty and negligence in handling the crisis.

How did people get that idea? From “attack ads,” the Times says, that “rely heavily on images of people of Asian descent.” Yet the only such depiction they cite was of the former U.S. ambassador to China, who was shown meeting with their leadership, the same image the Times itself published when it happened. And how should an issue ad address China without using any photos of leaders from China? With mannequins, perhaps? . . . Americans would also be right to wonder why more journalists aren’t pursuing a story about China that appears to tick every box in an investigative reporter’s dream assignment. Here we have an ultra-secretive police state that won’t even let its own citizens use Facebook. They put ethnic minorities in concentration camps. The first doctors who sounded the alarm about the virus were forced to recant at gunpoint. Gee, do you think maybe all that is worth a closer look?

Maybe the NYT is hoping for a bailout from Xi. But honestly, I think a lot of people are being bribed. And telling themselves it’s okay because Orange Man Bad.

During all the Russia hacking hype, China is rising in influence: While Russia’s role in the 2016 election dominates the news, China’s spying and alarming influence within our borders is too little noticed.

HMM: Australia CRUSHES coronavirus: Just FOUR people are diagnosed with COVID-19 in 24 hours as curve ‘heads south’ and country is told we could be eased back to normal in three weeks. It helps to be an island.

Related: Lockdown-free Sweden sees one of its highest days for new recorded coronavirus deaths and infections with 172 fatalities and 682 new cases.

UNLESS YOU’RE NORMALLY UP AT THIS UNGODLY HOUR YOU’LL MISS IT, but I’m scheduled to be on Fox & Friends tomorrow at 6:20 am Eastern to talk about my Two Americas column.

GERARD VAN DER LEUN: “What we are seeing is the work of The Mule.”

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IF PEOPLE GET THE SENSE THAT GOALPOSTS ARE BEING MOVED, IT WILL BE HARD TO GET THEM TO COMPLY WITH ANYTHING:

IT’S WEIRD HOW THIS HAPPENS: “And let me argue with ‘you can’t argue with the need for masks.’ When did that become beyond argument?! Just a few weeks ago, the authorities were telling us we didn’t need masks at all. Now, we’re supposed to accept the necessity and not even talk about it?!”

FLASHBACK: During all the Russia hacking hype, China is rising in influence: While Russia’s role in the 2016 election dominates the news, China’s spying and alarming influence within our borders is too little noticed.

CHANGE: America’s Middle Class Gets Hit With Office Jobs Disappearing.

HIGHER EDUCATION BUBBLE UPDATE: University Of Michigan Faces Up To $1 Billion Loss From COVID-19, Announces 5%-10% Executive Pay Cuts, Salary And Hiring Freezes, Voluntary Staff Furloughs.

Flashback: Michigan Deals With Election Reactions.

OPEN THREAD: Living hard will take its toll.

CORONAVIRUS: California hospitals can resume non-emergency surgeries.

Related: Four Southern California Counties Start Declaring Independence From Wuhan Virus and the Governor.

GOV. ABBOTT PROMISES FAR-REACHING ANNOUNCEMENT ON REOPENING TEXAS BUSINESSES, INCLUDING RESTAURANTS, HAIR SALONS. “‘This is gonna be happening in the first couple of days in May where you’re gonna be able to go back and go dining under safe standards, you’re gonna be able to get a haircut … but we’re gonna make sure there’ll be safe standards in place so that you will be able to do that without spreading the coronavirus,’ Abbott said.”

If you’re in Texas, read the whole thing, all y’all. (As we long-time Texans like to say.)

LET THEM EAT ESSENTIAL JOBS: New York Gov. Cuomo to protesters wanting economy reopened: ‘Get a job as an essential worker.’ This is not a good look for the Governor.

UPDATE: Andrew Cuomo’s coronavirus nursing home policy proves tragic.

Also, Cuomo’s remark is particularly ghastly given that I hear the lines for soup kitchens and food pantries in NYC are mind-bogglingly long.

BETTER DEAD THAN RUDE: Forget China: people online are mad at this Lululemon art director instead.

(Classical reference in headline.)

DEPEND UPON IT, SIR — WHEN A GOVERNOR KNOWS HIS EMPLOYEES ARE ABOUT TO BE LAID OFF IN A FORTNIGHT, IT CONCENTRATES HIS MIND WONDERFULLY: Massive layoffs and pay cuts are likely coming to state and local governments as federal aid goes elsewhere. 

Related: Could Poorly Managed States End Up in Bankruptcy? Mitch McConnell Is Open to the Idea.

THE GERMANS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A COMFORTING PEOPLE: German Humanities Scholars Enlisted to End Coronavirus Lockdown.

And much more at Power Line’s latest “Observations on the Great Hunkering.”

(Classical reference in headline.)

THINK OF THE MEDIA AS DEMOCRATIC PARTY OPERATIVES WITH BYLINES, AND IT ALL MAKES SENSE:

More from Byron York here: How does Nancy Pelosi get away with blocking desperately needed aid?

DISPATCHES FROM THE PARTY OF DEATH: Florida Man Will Wear Grim Reaper Outfit to Scare People Away from Beaches (and Raise Money for Dems).

(Classical reference in headline.)

UPDATE (FROM GLENN): What’s he going to do if people decide to spit in the face of Death?

ONCE I SAW THAT THERE WERE “THROUPLE” EPISODES ON THE CONNERS AND HOUSE HUNTERS, I KNEW THIS WAS UNDERWAY: Here’s ‘Polyamory’: Multi-Partner Sexual-Rights Crusade on the Horizon.

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Plus, stock up on Pet Food and Supplies.

THE DOCTOR WILL ZOOM YOU NOW: Has Telehealth’s Time Arrived? It can lead to better health care long after the pandemic.

AMERICA’S PAPER OF RECORD: De Blasio Announces System For Reporting Social Distancing Violations: Knowledgeable Actors Reporting Edict Noncompliance (KAREN).